Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday urged the
Kuwait government to review its visa restriction policy for Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
“Pakistan has taken effective measures to curb use of illegal documents for traveling purposes. In this regard, the
Kuwait government is urged to review its visa restriction policy,” the foreign minister said while talking to his
Kuwaiti counterpart Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah in
Kuwait City.
The foreign minister said that more than 0.1 million overseas Pakistanis are playing a dynamic role in development of
Kuwait. The Pakistani diaspora in Gulf countries wants to get access to
Kuwait’s markets, he said, and added that visa restrictions are a hurdle in getting access to the markets.
The
Kuwaiti foreign minister assured Qureshi that the visa policy will be reviewed and all possible cooperation will be extended to Pakistan in this regard. “Pakistan is our brotherly Muslim country and the role of Pakistani community in development of
Kuwait is appreciable,” Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah said.
Qureshi said Pakistan gives much importance to its bilateral and economic relations with
Kuwait. He said that
Kuwait has
supported Pakistan in every critical situation. He said Pakistan and its people have great respect for the people and government of
Kuwait.
The
Kuwaiti foreign minister said that services of Pakistani diaspora in
Kuwait are appreciable as they are brave and hard working.
Qureshi said Pakistan wants to further boost the existing economic relations with
Kuwait. He thanked the
Kuwaiti counterpart for
supporting Pakistan’s stance during the recent Pak-India crisis. He also thanked him on
supporting Pakistan on the issue of human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir.
M
eanwhile, talking to a delegation of prominent
Kuwaiti
businessmen, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is working on
business infrastructure development agenda in the country. He said the government desires that the
Kuwaiti companies invest in Pakistan, assisting the Pakistani government in accomplishing its agenda.
The minister said several
Kuwaiti companies have already been successfully doing
business in Pakistan. “The government has initiated economic diplomacy, and to this effect, all the embassies have been directed to apprise foreign investors on lucrative
business opportunities in Pakistan,” he said, and assured the delegation of
Kuwaiti
business community that Pakistan is providing all possible facilities to the foreign investors.
Qureshi reiterated the government’s desire to increase foreign investment in Pakistan while speaking to a delegation of the Abu Shaibah Group of Companies, which was led by its chairman Sayyah Abu Shaibah. He said there are vast investment opportunities in Pakistan in the energy, agriculture, health, education and construction fields for foreign investors and added that the investment of
Kuwaiti companies will be welcomed.
The
Kuwaiti delegation indicate
d their intent to bring massive investment in Pakistan in the near future.
Qureshi arrived in
Kuwait on Saturday on a two-day official visit to hold talks with
Kuwaiti leaders. Talking to media persons before his departure at Islamabad airport, Qureshi had said he was carrying a special letter of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the Emir of
Kuwait Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He had expressed the confidence that his visit will help further strengthen relations between Pakistan and
Kuwait.